Question about Piccolo cosplays

[DarklordKyo]

As any Dragon Ball fan knows, Piccolo's cape and turban are actually weighted training gear (much like Goku's arm bands, undershirt, and boots). For if someone like me were to ever get seriously into cosplay, serious enough to learn how to be a tailor or carpenter, any suggestions when it comes to mimicking it as close as possible? (like, maybe making the giant shoulder pad thingies out of wood, for example).

 

[Silentpony_v1legacy]

Well, its cosplay. Meaning costume play. You don't need to actually be wearing training pads and weighted boots. Cosplay Space Marines aren't actually genetically engineered, nor do their chainswords actually work.

You could try simple foam, cut to shape, with a layer of white fabric stapled on, then a secondary layer that'll be more costume accurate.
Need not make it complicated for no real gain.

 

[Drathnoxis]

It's not like Piccolo's gear actually animates like it's weighted anyway.

 

[DarklordKyo]

Well, its cosplay. Meaning costume play. You don't need to actually be wearing training pads and weighted boots. Cosplay Space Marines aren't actually genetically engineered, nor do their chainswords actually work.

You could try simple foam, cut to shape, with a layer of white fabric stapled on, then a secondary layer that'll be more costume accurate.
Need not make it complicated for no real gain.

authenticity, along with it being a good (mostly) full body job

 

[TrulyBritish]

Honestly, I'd just avoid that. Depending on how long you're cosplaying you're going to want to be comfortable and I can't help but feel that deliberately wearing something heavy on your head and shoulders is going to get annoying after a while.

 

[Souplex]

Frieza: How much does that way anyway?
Piccolo: The same as it always did: 100 kilg- ...That concept sort of lost all meaning after a while, didn't it?

 

[CaitSeith]

Err... I think cosplaying is more about looking authentic than being built authentic. It defeats the purpose of using authentic material if you can't walk and pose like Piccolo's does for three days in a row. But if you already can do that with heavy materials, go for it.

 

[JUMBO PALACE]

If you really must add weight to the cape maybe you can adapt a weighted blanket to suit your needs? They started as a form of comfort and treatment for children with autism but they've been shown to be helpful for people who suffer from anxiety and other disorders as well. I have sat under my girlfriend's with her and it is LOVELY. The weight feels like getting a hug all over your body and it is the coziest thing ever. You can get them in various weight up to and above 20 pounds so it might be a good solution for you. They can be pricey though.

 

[TheMysteriousGX]

Mesh sand/rice bags tucked under the shoulder pads. I think that's where the weight is considering the actual cape bit is free to flutter dramatically in the breeze. You can do the same on your head if you get a hard shell to wrap the turban around.

 

[lionsprey]

trying to mimic the weight sounds like a bad idea. the shoulders might be okey. but putting that much on your head can't be good for you.

 

[sageoftruth]

I suppose if you wore a small enough bicycle helmet underneath the turban, you'd end up with one that won't fall off, and that will hit the ground with a bit of a thud.

As for the cape... Shoulder pads, perhaps? Covered in plastic? I honestly have no idea, though, how you'd make it come off as easily as he removes them in the show. If it was just a matter of grabbing it and tearing it away, it would have fallen off by accident several times already.

 

[sanquin]

I'd suggest looking into Worbla plastic. It's a fairly hard plastic that becomes soft when you heat it with for instance a hair dryer and retains it's shape when cooled down again. I've seen quite a few cosplayers use this and make all kinds of intricate designs with it.

As for putting actual weight in it...don't. Just don't. You'll likely be walking around in the costume for a few hours or so, and you really don't want that kind of weight on your shoulders for that long. Will wreck either your back or your shoulders if you do that. Heck, even full plate which has been improved upon for many, many years still starts to hurt if you wear it for long. So making something that heavy yourself based off of an impractical anime design is just a bad idea.